Letter from Home- 4 ( Slice of Life)

[In October last year I started writing letters to my Doddamma (my father’s elder brother’s wife) and to amma (my mother). In November, I went to my daughter’s place in Germany, she was expecting her second child. I wrote mails to my Doddamma and my mother (Amma) every week. I sent the mail to my sister-in-law, my mother lives with my elder brother and to my cousin’s wife. My Doddamma lives with her son. After returning home I thought I would post letters then decided to continue sending mails. It will reach them sooner and I can also attach photos.) My Doddamma is 86 and is not able to go out. My Amma and Doddamma enjoy the mails and the photos. The internet has really changed our lives, it helps us to keep some contact with our friends and relatives, if we want to.😊]

6-02-18

Dear Doddamma and Amma,

Last time I had forgotten to tell you that I had made maanganaari tokku (spicy chutney) We have some plants in our garden and every year I get some of it. I usually make thokku. This time Kuvara (my husband) removed them from the ground, cleaned and kept them in the fridge. I was in Germany at that time. The thokku is very tasty with dosa. I cleaned the maanganaari and cooked in the cooker. When it cooled down I crushed them in the mixer. In the pan I put oil, when it became hot added mustard and menthe, then added red chilli powder, salt and haldi. To this I added the mixture and cooked till it left the sides.

A few months ago Bannanje Govinda Acharya had come to Manipal. We attended his discourse on Mahabharata. It was very good. There I came to know that all his discourses are available on the internet (You Tube). He speaks in Kannada. Now I am listening to Garuda Purana. Each part is only for fifteen minutes. Govinda Acharya explains very well and it is very interesting. I don’t know whether I will be able to read the Puranas, so I thought I should listen to him. He has also spoken about Mahabharata, Ramayana, The Gita and many other topics.

Last time I had written to you about our visit to Kuvempu’s home in Kuppali. We were there last month on the 27th morning. From there we proceeded to Sringeri. We were going there after more than 20 years. We reached at about 3. There is a guest house just outside the temple. It is a big building. We got a room there. We rested for some time. After taking a bath we went inside the temple complex at about 5 o’clock and were there till 10 o’clock. There were many people inside. Devotees come from different parts of our country, we could hear different languages. In spite of the crowd, it was nice.

We went inside the temples of Sri Sharadamba and Shri Vidyashankara. The temple of Vidyashankara is the old one and there are beautiful sculptures on the outside walls. There were beautiful ones of the different avataras of Vishnu.

After taking prasada we walked down the steps to the Tunga river. There are huge fishes near the bank, they are not caught. People were performing their pujas on the steps, there is a special place. We just sat and watched the sun set. It was so peaceful.

It was fascinating to watch a flock of white birds fly to their nests on a tree a little way downstream. There was dinner for all the devotees in the dining hall. We had dinner, there was a chutney, rasam, sambhar and buttermilk.

In one of the smaller halls, a Carnatic classical music concert was going on. There were many singers. We sat inside for some time, listening to them.

Later we listened to the chanting of shlokas by the priests. It felt very good to hear everyone chanting the prayers together. We left at 10 and come back to our room. On the 28th morning after breakfast in a nearby hotel, we went to Sharadamba temple to Attend the morning puja. We came back to our room, packed and left for Manipal. We reached by 12. I made rice and dal for lunch. We had a wonderful three days.

Also known as Curcuma Amada, Aamba- haldi. Description Mango-ginger is neither related to mango nor ginger but to turmeric (Curcuma longa). It is a rhizome which is pale yellow inside and lighter colour outside